For the first time since February 2011, classes at MSU have been canceled because of inclement weather conditions.

Monday’s snow day was primarily called because of the low temperatures expected to sweep through the area, acting provost June Youatt said.

“There wasn’t as much of concern over the snow as there was over the wind chill,” Youatt said. “People need to stay safe and not be exposed to the cold too long.”

Snow has steadily fallen in East Lansing since Saturday evening, making it difficult for many students trying to get back to campus.

Experts from the National Weather Service predict snowfall will continue until Monday afternoon.

“The heavier snow is going to come Sunday afternoon, probably around six to nine inches during the day,” said John Kowaleski, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Grand Rapids. “(Snowfall will be) somewhere in the neighborhood of eight to 12 inches before it’s all over with.”

The Lansing Board of Water and Light also released a statement issuing a forecast of about 12 inches of snow throughout the next 24 hours, predicting possible high winds and power outages.

After traveling to Pasadena, Calif. to watch the Rose Bowl, finance sophomore James Sullivan is still stuck in California because of the severe weather in Michigan.

“I was supposed to leave on (Jan. 3) and my flight was cancelled,” Sullivan said. “There were no available flights until Monday, and we aren’t sure when we’ll leave.”

The weather also brought the risk of accidents to students who had to drive back to campus this weekend, including education sophomore Alex Vuichard.

“My parents weren’t sure they were going to be able to get me back to school if I came back on Sunday,” Vuichard said. “My sorority doesn’t even open until Sunday, but we figured it would be best to come back before the storm.”

Kowaleski said the snow likely will stop Monday, but the cold temperatures will loom through Tuesday.